Alarm setting and actuating mechanism for clocks



Oct. 14. 9 1,511,895

P. s. LUTTRELL" ET AL ALARMI SETTING AND ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR CLOCKS- Filed Dec. 21', 922 4 Sheet$-$heet 1 Oct. 14, 1 1,511,895

P; S. LUTTRELL ET AL ALARM SETTING AND ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR CLOCKS Filed Dec. 21,- 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR- PAUL S- LUTTRELL. PAUL c. EOSKE} BY W A TTO NEYS.

Oct. 14, 1924. 1,511,895.

P.S LUTTRELL ET AL ALARM SETTING A ND AQTUATING MECHANISM FOR CLOCKS Filed Dec. 21, 922 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 HVVENTDR, aux. .s. LU 1 PAUL. c. ROSKE ATTORN Oct. 14. 1924. 1,511,895

P. s LUTTRELL ETAL ALARM SETTING AND ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR CLOCKS Fil ed Dec. 21, I922 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

RAUL 0. Rosa's.

' PAUL s. LUTTRELL Patented Oct. 14, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL vS. LUT'IRELL, OF OAKLAND, AND PAUL C. ROSKE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFOR- NIA, ASSIGNORS TO AMERICAN CLOCK CORPORATION, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA,

A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

ALARM SETTING AND ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR CLOCKS.

Application filed December 21, 1922. Serial No. 608,197.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, PAUL S. LUTTRELL and PAUL C. ROSKE, citizens of the United States, residing at Oakland, county of Alameda, and at the city and county of San Francisco, and State of California, respectively, have invented new and useful Improvements in an Alarm Setting and Actuating Mechanism for Clocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an alarm setting and actuating mechanism for clocks and like mechanisms. I

Most clocks in use today, and particularly those employing an alarm mechanism, are more or less unsatisfactory as it is difficult to accurately set the alarm mechanism to sound at a predetermined time or hour, this being particularly true if the time desired is a few minutes before or after a given hour. Another disadvantage is that most alarm mechanisms cannot be reset and rewound for the same time within two or three hours of the last alarm. The object of the present invention is to generally improve and simplify mechanisms of the character described; to provide an alarm setting and actuating mechanism which may be accurately set to the time desired and which may also be set to sound an alarm on any minute or half minute graduation, and further to provide a mechanism of this char acter which may be immediately re-wound and reset for the same time, or at least within eleven hours and fifty-seven minutes thereof, or which may be re-set for the same time, to-wit, twelve hours thereafter, the moment a time period of three minutes has elapsed.

The invention further embodies an interlocking mechanism, to-wit, an alarm releasing lever and an alarm winding key, the alarm releasing lever being so positioned that it engages the winding key and prevents rotation thereof, this being of importance as it necessarily forces the person desiring to set and wind the alarm first to swing the releasing lever to On position before the winding mechanism may be wound by the winding key- It often hap pens where ordinary alarm clocks are employed that a person will wind the alarm and also set the alarm, but will neglect to release the alarm. If this is the case, it is obvious that no alarm will be sounded at the time desired and the whole mechanism for this reason proves a failure. In the present instance no such a mistake can be made as setting of the alarm must first take place, secondly the alarm releasing lever must be moved to On position, and third, the alarm mechanism must be wound by means of the winding key, but as the alarm cannot be wound before the releasing lever is moved to On position, it is obvious that the proper coordination is obtained between the different parts of the mechanism.

Other objects will hereinafter appear.

One form which our invention may assume is exemplified in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front view of the clock.

Fig. 2 is arear view of the same.

Fig. 3 is another rear view of the clock partially in section showing the rear cover section removed.

Fig. fl is a general view of the clock mechanism, said view also showing a portion of the alarm setting and actuating mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the clock.

Fig. 6 is a central, vertical cross section taken through the clock and showing the major portion of the mechanism employed.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly to Figs. 3, 4L and 6, A indicates the main housing of the clock, and B the frame plates by which the clock mechanism is supported. These frame plates are interspaced, as shown in Fig. 6, and are secured to the rear cover section C of the clock in any suitable manner. The usual gear train is employed, to-wit, a main spring D, a first Wheel or gear 1, a second wheel 2, a third wheel 3, and a fourth wheel 4. This direction gear train drives theescapement mechanism, generally indicated at 5, and a balance wheel 6, which is actuated thereby. This part of the mechanism is constructed in the usual manner, but it cooperates with the remaining mechanism, hereinafter to be described, a brief description has been rendered.

The clock illustrated is provided with the usual graduated dial 7, see Figs. 1 and 6, an

hour hand 8, and a minute hand 9, the minute hand being secured to the usual form of spindle 10, which is driven by the second wheel, and the hour hand 8 is similarly driven in the usual manner by a dial gear train, such as, indicated at 11. The clock is alsdprovided' with the usual form of alarm mechanism, to-wit, a spring E, a pair of gears 12 and 13 driven thereby, and a star gear 14-, which actuates the alarm pallet 15 and the hammer 1 6 actuated thereby.

The invention involved in the present instance is the provision of a novel form of alarm winding, setting and actuating mechanism; This mechanism consists of a spindle. l7, journalled within the main frame and disposed, at right. angles to, the main spindle 10, that is; it is vertically disposed in the casing and projectsthrough the bottom portion thereof. Suitably secured to this-spindle is a minute hand 18 ,and' a setting screw 19; and secured to a sleeve jour-' nalled' exterior of thespindle' 17, as at 20, is air hour hand 212' The sleeve 20 and the spindle 17 are connected by a dial train similar to that illustrated at 11, thatv is one revolution; of spindle 17 will transmit oi1etwelfth of a revolution toflthe sleeve and the hdur handiv carried thereby, and. the gear trains employed are, theretotesimilar to the gear train referred to and generally indicated at 22. a

The spindle 17 forms two functions, first that of actuating the minute or hour hands indicated at 18 and 21,.respectively, and secondly that of imparting movement to the alarm locking and releasing mechanism, which will hereinafter be referred. to as the alarm actuating mechanism; This mechanism consists of two disks, one to be known as the'minute disk and the other as the hour disk, the minute disk being indicated at 23; and the hour disk at 2%. The minute disk rotates in unison with the main spindle 10 and therefore makes onerevolution during each hour. The hour disk 2st is intermittently driven by the minute disk and makes one-twelfth of a revolution during each' hour. Both disks serve a common tunetioir, towit, either that of locking the alarm mechanism, or conversely, thatvof releasing the alarm mechanism; The minute disk is ordinarily driven by the main spindle 10 through means or" a ratchet gear 25 and a pair of pawls 26, but it may be manually ro tilted by the spindle 17 through a second ratchet gear 27 and pawls 28. The ratchet gear 27 is freely turnable on the spindle, while the ratchet gear 25is keyed or pinned thereto as indicated at 29. Itmay furthermore be stated that the pawls 26 and 28 are secured to opposite sides of the minute disk and that they extend in the same direction with relation to each other. Also, that each ratchet gear contains sixty teeth and that these teeth extend in the same direction and are staggered with relation to each other. This is of importance as it permits the alarm mechanism to be set for full or oils-halt minutes as desired.

The ratchet gear 27 is carried by a sleeve 30' which is freely tutnable oii the spindle and this sleeve in turn carries apin gear 31,

which intermeshes with a similar pin gear 32 secured on the spindle 17. Thus, it spindle 17 is rotated means of the setting screw 19, movement is transmitted through the gears 31 and 32' to rotate the sleeve 30 and the ratchet gear 27, and when so rotated pawls 28 are engaged and movement is consequently imparted to rotate the minute disk. Pawls 26 will in that instance ride freely over the ratchet gear as the teeth and pawls are reversed to the pawls and teeth of the ratchet gear 27. Therefore, no interference will be encountered between the ratchet gears. It may further be stated that the ratchet gear 27' can only berdtated in onedirection as a ratchet 33with a cooperating pawl 28 is employedto prevent re verse rotation, the gear 33 being secured on the spindle 1'? as shown in Fig. 6'. The mid ute disk, as previously stated, is normally rotated in unison with the spindle 10 throughmeans ofthe ratchet gear 2 5 and pawls 26', that is during the normal opera: tion of the clock mechanism the spindle 10 is driven by the clock mechanism, but it may also be manually rotated by means of the spindle as .the spindle itself may be thanually rotated throughmeans of a setting screw, such as indicated at 35, see 6. 1

Movement is transmitted from the minute disk to intermittently rotate the hoiir disk one-twelfth of a revolution during one revolutionoi": the minute disk. This is accomplished by securing the hdur disk on a spindle 36 and by also securing a star gear 37 on the same spindle. There are twelve teeth on the star gear and these teeth are intermittently engaged by a pin 38 secured on the minute disk 23., It" will also be noted, by referring to Fig; 3,; that one of the teeth of the star gear 37 ,is slightly enlarged, as indicated at 39. This tooth is so positioned that it is engaged by the pin 38 when the alarm mechanism is released, The minute disk is providedwith a notched portion 40, see Fig; 3, and the hour disk is similarly notched as indicated at 41. These notched portions of the respective disks register with the alarm hammer, or rather an extension thereof, when the alarm mechanism is to be released, and the extension of the alarm hammer is thus permitted to freely oscillate whenthe notched portions of the respective disks move into register therewith. The extension of the alarm hammer is generally indicated at F. One arm of the extension, indicated at 42, en? gages the periphery efthe minute disk, and the other portion of the extension en ages the periphery of the hour disk 24. l Iowever, when the notches in the respective disks align, as shown in Fig. 3, the extension F is released and free oscillation is permitted and the alarm mechanism will sound, that is the hammer strikes a bell, as indicated at 44, and the sound produced may be increased or dampered as desired by means of a damper lever as indicated at The star gear 37 and the hour disk 24 are both secured to a common sleeve 37 which in turn is freely turnable on the sta tionary spindle or stud shaft 36. It was previously stated that the star wheel and the disk 24 were turned in unison by means of a pin 38 on the minute disk and that one-twelfth of a revolution would be imparted during each engagement. If the sleeve 37 carrying the star wheel and hour disk is freely turnable on the stud shaft or spindle 36, it is obvious that means must be provided for preventing more than one twelfth of a revolution. For this reason a pawl and ratchet are provided. The ratchet indicated at 36* is secured to the spindle 36, while the pawl 24 is pivotally secured to the hour disk. The pawl rides freely over the ratchet during each one-twelfth of a revolution of the hour disk. and the star wheel, and it thus secures the hour disk and star Wheel against further movement. and also against accidental reverse movement. The pawl and ratchet, in other words, act as a frictional resistance which will permit a member to rotate, but which will insure an instantaneous stop when the member imparting the rotary movement is released. In other words, while the pawl and ratchet are shown to frictionally resist the movement of the hour disk and to instantly stop it, any other friction device might be employed.

The operation of the device will be as follows:

If it is desired to set the alarm for a given hour or for any intermediate time period up to a half minute, it will only be necessary to grasp the set screw 19 and turn it in the direction of the arrow indicated in Fig. 5. The member 19 secured to the spindle 17 and the minute hand 18 is also secured thereto. The dial train indicated at 22 turns the hour hand 21, and turning movement is therefore continued until the desired time is registered on the dial shown at 50, see Fig. 5. The minute disk and the hour disk are simultaneously advanced due to the movement transmitted from the spindle 17, that is the minute disk is rotated by means of the ratchet gear 27 and the pawls 28 through means of the pin gears 31 and 32, and each revolution of the minute disk is transmitted to intermittently rotate! the hour disk indicated at 24. The clock mechanism will thereafter advance the disks as previously described through means of the ratchet gear 25 and pawls 26, and the alarm will be released when the large tooth 39 of the star gear is engaged, that is the notches 40 and 41 will at this time register with the lever F and the lever is therefore released and will then oscillate as the alarm pallet will then be free to operate. It was previously stated that the tooth 39 was larger than the remaining teeth. This is important as it causes an increased movement or advance of the hour disk 24, the movement being sufiicient to advance the notch 41 to a point where it will again lock the lever F the moment the alarm has sounded. This is obviously an advantage as it permits immediate rewinding and re-setting of the alarm mechanism if desired.

In conjunction with this matter another important feature is provided, that is the alarm mechanism is provided with a manual release lever 51, see Fig. 4, which is swung into or out of engagement with the hammer 16 by means of an exterior release lever 52. This lever is so arranged that when swung to Off position, as shown in Fig. 2-, it lies directly in the path of the alarm winding key indicated at 53. This key cannot be turned when the releasing lever is swung to Off position, and it is therefore necessary to release the alarm mechanism if it is desired to re-wind the same. Practically all alarm clocks can be re-wound regardless of the position of the release lever and as this is the case it often happens that a person will re-wind the alarm and also set the alarm, but will forget or neglect to release the lever 52. This cannot happen in the present instance as the release lever must be swung to release or On position before it is possible to re-wind the alarm and person is therefore forced or positively reminded of the fact that the release lever must be swung to release position before the alarm can be re-wo-und. The alarm setting mechanism is operable independently of this portion of the mechanism, but will. of course not operate unless the alarm spring is wound.

From the foregoing description it can be seen, first that the alarm mechanism may be accurately set to any given hour or to any intermediate minute or one-half minute graduation, and that the time desired will be visibly indicated by the alarm dial shown at 50, in Fig. 5, this alarm dial being formed on the bottom of the clock casing. Second, that the winding mechanism cannot be rewound without releasing the alarm releasing lever. Third, that the automatic release of the alarm mechanism by the main clock mechanism is controlled by the minute and hour disks, and that these disks will not release the alarm mechanism until the notches 4G "and ll register as shown in Fig. 3'. Fourth, that an added or increased ti'irnihg movement is transmitted to the hour disk during the releasing period by enlarging one of the teeth of the star gear by which it is actuated, thereby automatically locking the alarm mechani-sn the moment it has completed its operation, and as such is the case it peijinits in'n'i'iediat'e resetting of the alarm to; another time period. It also permits imrned. ate i.'e-setting of the alarm for an advanced period ot eleven hours and fitty=seven minutes. And fifth, that no part of the clock mechanism can be reversed as ratchet gears and pawls are employed to prevent reverse movement.

Having thus described our invention,

what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent isl. in a mechanism oi the character described, the combination with the minute hand spindle, oi? a minute disk adapted to be rotated in unison therewith, an hour disk adapted to he intern'iittently rotated by the minute disk, and means actuated by both disks to release or look an alarm pallet.

2. In a mechanism of the character desc1'ibfed,'the combination 'Withthe ini-nute'hai'id spindle, oi a minute disk supported by the spindle and adapted to be rotated in unison with the spindle, an hour disk mounted adjacei'ft the minute disk, means for transmitting a twelfth of a revolution to the hour disk during one revolution of the minute disk, andmea-ns cooperating with said disks for slightly increasing the rotary movement of the hour disk once during a complete revolution thereoit.

In a *rnechanfi m of the character described, the combination with the .ninute hand spindle, of a minute disk freely turnable on the spindle, means carried by the spindle for rotating the disk in unison with the spindle, and means for manually rotating the minute disk independently of the spindle.

4;. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination with the minute hand spindle, of a minute disk freely turnable on the spindle, a ratchet gear secured to the spindle, pawls pivotally mounted on the minute disk and engaging said ratchet gear, said pawls adapted to term a driving connection betweeii the minute disk and the ratchetgear to rotate the minute disk in unison with the spindle, a second ratchet gear freely turnable on the spindle, pawls pivotally secured to the minute disk and engaging said ratchet gear, the 'pawls and the teeth of said last named ratchet gear extending in the same direction as the pawls and teeth of the first named ratchet gear, and means for manually rotating the second named ratchet gear.

5. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination with the ihinu't'e hand spindle, of a inihute 'clisk freely turnable on the spindle, a ratchet gear secured to the spindle, pawls pivotally mounted on the mil-lute disk and engaging sa i" rt gear, said pawls adapted to form a d connection between the minute disk d the ratchet gear to rotate the minute disk in unison with the spindle, a second ratchet gear freely tnrnahie the spindle, pawls pi'iot tlly secured to the minute dis: a a engaigrng said ratchet gear, the teeth oi the last n iii-ed 'iwtchet ge tending in the same direction as the pawis and teeth of the first named ratchet g eaii',

and means for manually rotating he second named ratchet ear, said in'ean's' c pri'sing a second spindle, 'a gear {train fornring a conneetion between said spindle and the second named 'ratoh'et gean a minute hand secured to said second named spindle, an alarm ml with which said minute hand cooperates, a sleeve freely turna'b'le on the second named spindle, an hour hand secured thereto, and a dial gear train forming a conneeti'on between the second na ned spindle and the sleeve turn'ably mo'iu d thereon,

6. In a mechanism of the character described, a main minute hand spindle, a minute disk freely turnable thereon, meahs for automatically rotating the minute disk in unison with the spindle, means for n 'ually rotating the disk independently o f the spindle, an hour disk positioned adj cent {the minute disk,a star gear cooperating with the hour disk and having twelve teeth formed thereon, and a pin on the minute d-isk adapted to successively engage the teeth on the star gear and thereby impart a elitt l'i of a revolution to the hour disk during each revolution of the minute disk.

7. In a mechanism of the ehaa-aeter {described, a main minute hand spindle, a infinute disk freely turntable thereon, means ttor automatically rotating the minute disk in unison with the spindle, means for maimally rotating the disk independently of the spindle, hour disk positioned adjacent the minute disk, a star gear cooperating with the hour disk and having ty'velv'e teeth formed thereon, and one of said teeth being larger than the remaining teeth to impart an added movement to the hour disk, and a pin carried by the minute disk and adapted to suecessively engage the teeth "of the star gear.

8. In a mechanism ed the character described, a main minute hand spindle, aiminute disk freely turnable thereon, means for automatically rotating the minute disk in unison with the spindle, means for manually rotating the disk independently of the spindle, an hour disk positioned adjacent the minute disk, a star gear cooperating with the hour disk and having tv'velve teeth formed thereon, and one of said teeth being new i larger than the remaining teeth to impart an added mo ement to the hour disk, a pin carried by the minute disk and adapted to successively engage the teeth of the star gear, notches formed in the periphery of the re spective disks, an alarm pallet, and a lever carried by the pallet normally engaging the periphery of the disks and adapted to release the alarm pallet when the notches in the disks register With the lever. I

9. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination with the main minute hand spindle, of a minute disk turnably mounted on the spindle, a ratchet gear secured to the spindle, pawls pivotally mounted on the minute disk and engaging said gear and forming a driving connection between the gear and the disk whereby the disk is rotated in unison with the spindle, said ratchet gear havingv sixty teeth, a second ratchet gear turnably mounted on the spindle, said gear also having sixty teeth, but said teeth bein positioned intermediate the teeth on the first-named ratchet gear, pawls mounted on the minute disk and engaging the second named ratchet gear to form a driving connection between the disk and the gear, and means for manually rotating the last named ratchet gear.

10. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination with the main minute hand spindle, of a minute disk turnably mounted on the spindle, a ratchet gear secured to the spindle, pawls pivotally mounted on the minute disk and engaging said gear and forming a driving connection between the gear and the disk whereby the disk is rotated in unison with the spindle, said ratchet gear having sixty teeth, a second ratchet gear turnably mounted on the spindle. said gear also having sixty teeth, but said teeth being positioned intermediate the teeth on the first-named ratchet gear, pawls mounted on the minute disk and engaging the second-named ratchet gear to form a driving connection between the disk and the gear, an alarm dial graduated into hours and minutes, a spindle extending through the dial and having a minute hand secured thereto, a sleeve "turnably mounted on the spindle and having an hour hand secured thereto, a dial gear train connecting the sleeve and the second named spindle, and means for imparting rotary movement from said second named spindle to rotate the second named ratchet gear.

PAUL S. LUTTRELL. PAUL O. ROSKE. 

